Animal Care in Crete

Photo:Crete Catalist

If you are a pet lover, beyond cats and dogs, you may find Animal Welfare on Crete a bit of a controversial, even sad subject sometimes, for the Greek culture has not traditionally been what we mainly urbanised British expatriates would call animal friendly. In truth, the mainly rural Crete lifestyle reflects the practical side of day-to-day existence on the island, such as rearing and killing animals for consumption and their products.

So when it comes to domesticated animals, here's the rub, that is where we may misunderstand and find contradictions that conflict with our own views on caring for pets and other creatures.

Most cats are feral and there are many stray dogs wandering around. Perhaps with the cats being feral, this a throwback to the Minoan period on Crete akin to the Ancient Egyptians where cats were revered in those times?

Again on the practical side, veterinarians can be thin on the ground in Crete and until the last five years or so, neutering/spaying the animals was virtually unheard of. During this time, Northern Europeans started to take up residence in Crete in growing numbers with their own values, along of course with the one million+ visitors each summer to our sunny isle - known to the rest of Greece, as "Melaganissos" - the Big Island.

All dogs have to microchipped and supposed to be given the appropriate vaccinations. Perhaps many local residents on Crete do not bother. Or, they find it is too expensive. Few dogs and cats with Greek owners are neutered/spayed. For other Europeans, these are often priorities and necessary. "Different mind - set, different values" is how that cultural comparison can best be described.

The plain truth is that Crete is still very rural and therefore it follows that most local Crete families rear their animals for food. Dogs are used in guard duties and hunting. Cats keep down the vermin. They are not thought of as pets for the most part, although things are changing with the much more Eurocentric values of today's generation. They are growing up with better exposure to the media and Internet on the more caring treatment of animals, and animal husbandry as practised by other Europeans.

There are organisations - animal shelters and private groups, set up on Crete and run by both Greeks and by foreigners with the mission to help alleviate the root causes of the problems and educate on the importance of proper animal husbandry.

The first and best known of the animal shelters is The Haven in Malia , (also known as C.A.W.G.) run by Gayner, from Birmingham originally, with her husband Michaelis. Gayner and her volunteers work tirelessly to not only look after the strays they have, and re-house them in UK and Germany but to try and alert the authorities and those members in the community with influence to do something about the mistreatment of animals. Here are some statistics to make you realise what they are up against.

Arche Noah Creta
An animal welfare Group serving Western Crete is called "Arche Noah Creta". Their web site in German and English can be found at www.archenoah-kreta.com. They too are working hard to alleviate some of the suffering of the stray domestic animals on Crete. Their animal shelter is based between Rethymnon and Chania (Hania/Xania).

Friends of Animals - Rethymno
We are pleased to welcome (April 2007) another animal welfare association in Rethymnon: Friends of Animals - Rethymno. This is their link. The site is in English and German also. There is a branch in Plakias that started in 2005. In 2006, the group says its two animal shelter jointly re-housed almost 300 dogs and 43 cats in Greece and abroad. The group has close links with both Archenoah-Kreta and C.A.W.G. Download regular newsletter.

Friends of the Animals - Elounda
FILOZOIKOS - is the official bi-lingual site of this Elounda, Crete - Local Animal Welfare Group which is a registered charity. The group maintains two year round feeding stations: one in Agios Nikolaos and one in Elounda. As with other Crete animal support groups, rescued animals are placed into temporary foster homes. German vets on visits to Crete, sterilize them as a means to control animal population. The group gives lectures in local schools to help youngsters understand the need for animal welfare and how to be good practitioners. Many rescued dogs after treatment are flown to Germany and Switzerland to new homes, helped by Arche Noah - Crete.

V.O.C.A.L.
Voice of the Cats Alliance (VOCAL) is looking after the interests of our feline friends in Mavrikiano, Elounda, Lassithi and operate mainly in the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos and surrounding areas. The group is supported by INCO, the Foreign Residents Association. more.....

Then, there is a great web site if you are an animal lover called WorldAnimal.net. Another, is the W.S.P.A. - The World Society for the Protection of Animals. All have connections with animal support groups in Crete.

If you know of other animal shelter or animal protection websites on CRETE, elsewhere in Greece or abroad, please contact the BritsinCrete webmaster, so your organisation or others can be included on this page.

Tale of A Donkey
When is a true donkey story a good one? When it is posted in BritsinCrete Forum! Animals in Crete can have a happy ending.
As a postscript: This is a perfect picture of a parked donkey in Chania!